I found a baby bunny on the road going for my walk today. Probably a week old, smaller than my fist. Thought it was dead but it moved a little so i picked it up. It was bleeding and freezing cold but still alive. I cradled it in my hands trying to warm it up going back home and when i began stroking it it turned its head towards my finger and made the most heart wrenching little suckling movements and sounds searching for its mother's milk. I washed him clean of the blood and found several tiny puncture wounds from bites, probably a weasel pulled him out of his nest and dragged him onto the road. He warmed up and began moving more and i stroked him. I knew he was dying from the very beginning, but thought if i could warm him up and find the nest perhaps he'd have a chance after all. I couldn't find a nest obviously - which rabbit burrow to put him in? If that is indeed where the mothers keep them and not in a grassy nest somewhere in a field. He died in my hands even before i went back to look for a nest though i didn't realise it at the time. He had heaved a couple of deep sighs and without me knowing was off on his way. A little spirit back to the universe, me left with a tiny body still warm. Life is quite something.

Sunday, 25 February 2007

One week left until the first year point location exam, hence lots of black dots. I study acupuncture part-time doing a three and a half year long degree course. Every other weekend I go to college for two full days of classes and now I have just finished my first year. The theory behind acupuncture is that in these specific points on the body the energy, or qi, stagnates or creates little whirlpools in all the dips, creases, corners and gaps that are created under the skin by bones, muscles and tendons. This qi is then closer to the surface and can be affected by inserting needles which harmonises the flow in the particular channel that runs there, such as the Lung channel running from the side of my thumb. I love the Chinese Medicine view of things, somehow very practical as the same time as being rather poetic.

Friday, 23 February 2007

1. Visit the charity shop enjoying myself trying out clothes (mostly practical garments but if I have the time I love trying out stuff I couldn't imagine wearing outside the changing room) and looking for things for my kitchen.

3. Last stop health food shop (lovely place that has most things you could want) where my favourite shelf is the herbal tea section in the back, taking my time to choose a type I haven't tried yet. This time : Blueberry. Yumm.

In between these three places I wander around, usually feeling pretty pleased after having had an acupuncture treatment in the clinic above the health food shop. I don't need to go to town very often as this place we live in supplies most things like basic food and everyday household items, so when I do go it's mostly just for getting things I really like. Like berry tea.

Thursday, 22 February 2007

I put my purple skirt and stripy socks on today to cheer things up. It turned out the day was lovely anyway. I had lunch outside in the herb garden because the sun was out and it was so warm and spring like. On days like this I feel like when I was a kid and would walk home from school kicking dusty pebbles off the road where the sun had dried it up. Smelling spring in the mild breeze and listening to the birds chirping to each other.

Here and now the daffodils are nearly out, but I've been enjoying them in my window for quite a while already. I love sticking my nose in!

Tuesday, 20 February 2007

I like pockets. They're like little homes you can carry with you anywhere. Places only I know and places I feel safe in wherever I am. For keeping things you need. To keep your hands warm. For resting sometimes. For little finds, like smooth stones that can be felt without anyone seeing. Small simple objects put in a pocket become slightly magical to me. They're close to me and they keep me company. In that moment of time they are my whole home, if everything else disappeared we would be all that remained of me and my belongings. I like that feeling and I love the feeling of travelling lightly, carrying everything you need on your back. Having one big pocket. Having a blog feels a bit like having a pocket. A home that can be visited from anywhere, a place of my own to fill with things I like. Hope you like it too.